ACT research details how school-day senior retesting offers students a valuable second chance to perform their best as they prepare for life after high school.
Expanding access and equity
One of the most powerful benefits of school-day senior retesting is increased access. When states and districts offer retests during the school day, participation rises across all demographic groups, especially among students who may otherwise face barriers such as cost, transportation, or conflicting responsibilities.
ACT research finds that 35% of school-day retesters have household incomes below $50,000, compared with 15% of Saturday retesters. Offering district-funded retests during the school day helps equalize opportunities, both financially and logistically, regardless of students' backgrounds.
Higher scores, real opportunities
While harder to quantify, research shows that retesting pays off academically. Familiarity with the ACT’s format and content, an additional year of subject-matter learning, and the desire for increased academic and scholarship opportunities lead to measurable score gains.
For students who retook the ACT on designated school days, there was an 18% increase in those achieving a Composite score of 21 or higher compared to their initial attempt. This is important since several states require a score of at least 21 on the ACT to be eligible for state scholarships, significantly increasing the number of qualified scholarship candidates.
Additionally, upon retesting, a significant percent more students reached ACT College Readiness Benchmarks, a predictor of success in credit-bearing college courses, after retesting:
- English: +17% more retested students reached this benchmark
- Math: +24% more retested students reached this benchmark
- Reading and Science: +23% more retested students reached this benchmark
Impressive retesting numbers lead to millions in scholarship dollars unlocked
State success stories illustrate the financial impact of senior retesting.
In Tennessee, where senior retesting has been offered since 2017:
- Over 52,000 seniors participated in the fall 2025 retest opportunity, which was more than 70% of the senior class.
- 88% of retesters improved at least one section test score.
- 39% of retesters improved their Composite score, with an average gain of 2 points.
- An additional 3,678 students qualified for the state’s HOPE Scholarship by scoring a 21 or higher on the senior retest - a 17% increase over spring results. Collectively, these students gained access to more than $75 million in potential scholarship funding.
- Over 2,000 seniors participated in the fall 2025 retest opportunity, representing over 30% of the senior class.
- 92% of retesters improved at least one section test score.
- 46% of retesters improved their Composite score by an average of 2.1 points.
- The senior retest allowed nearly 500 students – an average of 13% - to improve their Hathaway Scholarship eligibility, increasing potential awards by nearly $2 million.
Saving time and money through better course placement
Many colleges use ACT scores for course placement. Senior retesting helps more students meet required benchmarks, allowing them to bypass remedial or corequisite courses and enroll directly in credit-bearing classes.
In Tennessee, senior retest scores in 2025 resulted in the following percentages of additional students who met subject benchmarks:
- +20% met the reading benchmark
- +20% met the math benchmark
- +22% met the science benchmark
Reducing anxiety and reinforcing growth
Beyond scores and scholarships, senior retesting supports students emotionally and academically. Research indicates that retesting can reduce test anxiety, as students become more comfortable with the test’s format, length, and material. Just as important, it reinforces a powerful message: learning never stops.
Offering a senior retest encourages students to stay engaged during their final year of high school, helping combat “senioritis” and emphasizing that growth is still possible and expected. Students who reflect on their junior-year results, set goals, and work toward improvement often see their efforts rewarded.
Educators, too, can take advantage of senior retesting and comparative scores to adjust their instructional and curriculum strategies, keep students engaged and focused during their senior year, and help students use their test data to chart their postsecondary course.
As one Tennessee senior shared after raising their score to a 30, “I was not going to take it [the ACT] anymore, but I decided to give the senior retake a try. I went to tutoring before and after school and worked on some skills within my classes. I raised my score to a 30 and qualified for 20,000 more dollars of scholarship money.”
Benefits for schools, states, and accountability systems
Senior retesting also provides value at the system level. Administering the ACT at two points in time creates a strong foundation for:
- Evaluating the effectiveness of instructional programs and interventions
- Highlighting student growth
- Offering another opportunity to improve accountability measures that traditionally rely on junior-year data alone
A win for students, the school system, and the future
Whether measured in higher scores, scholarship dollars, avoided remediation, or renewed motivation, the evidence is clear: school-day ACT senior retesting offers a meaningful second opportunity.
It empowers students to demonstrate readiness, supports families financially, helps school systems use resources more effectively, and signals a broader commitment to growth and continuous improvement. For states and districts looking to strengthen college and career readiness, senior retesting isn’t just an extra test; it’s an investment in student potential and growth.